A -crystal clear pale orange with a perfect 3 finger head. Decent retention. Best looking beer for this style I've seen yet.

S - interesting combo of strong malt presence and some hops as well.

T - I think I've found a new summer drinker. This beer is perfect for the style. Easy to drink, incredibly flavorful with a smallest hint of lemon, strong malt body with a flavorful hop crispness to boot. Perfectly crafted.

M - perfectly fine

Oveall - There is a new summer beer champion and its name is New Belguim Somersault. (525 characters)

A- Pours a slightly chill hazed yellowish amber color, perhaps there is some suspended yeast in this one. The head starts off think, and is super white, dissipating fairly fast into a thin cover over the brew. The carbonation appears to be fine and the lacing is decent, with small patches of whispy foam clinging to the side of the glass. Good overall look!

S- Citrus like hops, from the Centennial variety, are prominent, with peach/apricot kernels blended in. There is also a fresh piney aroma on the back, that is subdued and balances a light biscuit aroma. Very nice!

T- Front loaded flavor, which includes a good dose of malt sweetness, balanced by citrus rind tartness that is mild and very natural in flavor. The hops on the finish keep this beer super refreshing and clean, not really leaving any lingering tastes on the palate. There is possibly some sweeter fruits such as nectarine/apricot in the profile as well....super nice taste overall!

M/O- Very smooth and leans into more of a medium body, this beer keeps the flavor close to the palate, and exits with a clean feeling that makes me crave more. I would think this is an excellent brew to enjoy with some spice such as a light Thai dish! I will definitely pick this up again when in Montana....highly recommended! (1,293 characters)

Bright pale yellow golden color, head does its work and jumps on the glass. Peppery, lemon, wild flowers and hit of apricot with fresh baked cracker in the nose. Lighter body, very smooth. Graininess comes across semi-dry. Lemon grass, orchard fruit, faint mint and dry biscuits. Herbal and floral with a mild but very pleasing fruitiness. Bone dry finish.

I would not expect anything less from New Belgium, very easy drinking for a hot day but still packed with intricacies. (518 characters)

Pours a golden yellow with carbonation floating to meet the soft head. The nose offers up grains and fruit. Taste is sweet, fruit, and a hint of citrus; overall very good. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and heavily carbonated. Another solid beer from NB. (288 characters)

Absolutely love Somersault from New Belgium, one of my favorite Blonde Ales and summer seasonal. The taste is fantastic, a nice blend of citrus and smooth finish. I highly recommend this beer to anyone for a summer beer, very easy to relax and enjoy a nice summer's day with. (314 characters)

Enjoyed on-tap @ the Wolf Public House in Ballwin, MO. Poured from the Cool "Seasonal" Somersault (Bright Green/Blue Neon) tap into a pint glass for $4.50. Not sure a Keg date... Not put on by the distributor.

Appearance- Pours a 2 finger head off the bat, has good retention, and a clear, golden color body. Leaves minimal lacing.

Smell- Has nice fruity/apricot scents from the beginning and then a huge wheat after aroma.

Taste- Apricot taste upfront (mild) but good for the style. Its definitely a blond ale with its maltiness and has a medium bitterness to it. Anything more would kill it. Awesome balanced beer!

Mouthfeel- Light Bodied, Light-Medium Viscosity, Appropriate Carbonation, smooth, and has a great finish on the palate with a fruitiness.

Overall- One of the best blonde ales I might have ever had (from an American Brewery)! Terrific for the summer and MUCH better than last summer's seasonal by New Belgium (Skinny Dip). I have had questions at the Pub if we are getting their Skinny Dip and I say, take a drink of this one! Fuckin right! (1,063 characters)

A - Pale yellow with a slight amber hue, but remarkably clear. Evervescent bubbles leading to a sheet white, frothy head that has excellent retention. <4.5>

S - Sweet, malty, with a hint of pepper spice. Hops are very mild. <5>

T - Citrus, slightly tart hits the front of the pallet and holds through to the finish. Pale and amber malt flavors are present, but short-lived as is the alcohol, which breaks to a dry, mild bitterness. However, the tart citrus flavor returns to accompany the mild hop bitterness in the aftertaste. <4>

M - Light body, moderate carbonation. <5>

O - Very drinkable, an interesting balance of citrus and bitterness that pushes the malt bill to the background. It has excellent lacing. Could easily put away 2 or 3 on a lazy afternoon. <4.5> (801 characters)

Beautiful blonde ale, nice and clear, with a really really special gorgeous foamy head that clung like mad to the glass in multiple rings, covered the entire top of the beer, and maintained itself at a tiny height of about half a centimeter the whole way down.

Light citrusy aroma that was mostly lemon to me but grapefruit to the wifey.

Juicy and crisp, with loads of hop flavor with a very mild bitterness to back it all up. Touch of malt in the dry finish. Supremely balanced. Light to medium bodied. Incredible! Most blonde ales aim for sweetness but this ale could pass for a less hoppy extra pale ale

Part of New Belgium's Summer Folly Pack, and their current summer release.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to my New Belgium Fat Tire Pint Glass. Served in the low 40'sº Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a cream white head of a thick and sudsy consistency with an above average retention. Lacing is medium thick. Body color is a mildly hazy golden amber with ample carbonation. Very nice appearance overall for a Blonde Ale and good head quality. 4

(Smell) Husky pale malts, citrus ream, a floral hop bouquet and a waft of tart grapefruit. A nice complex and balanced aroma. Despite having a mildly rugged aroma, the overall nose is clean, exciting and approachable. I like how the aromas blend and compliment one another, and the potency is high. Very nice. 4.5

(Taste) Bright citrus and pale malt flavor with a small touch of graininess that is followed through with a complex and refreshing floral hop, sweet honey and a mild tart apricot finish, not shockingly in-your-face like the Apricot presence in Magic Hat's #9. Finishes slightly dry and tart. Really high drinkability and the flavors are all bright and enjoyable, despite the drink's age. This is a very enjoyable Blonde Ale. 4.5

(Mouthfeel) Texture has some foamy carbonation on the back of the tongue, finishes mildly tart and very slightly dry. Body is medium for a Blonde Ale, light overall. Alcohol presence is very low. The overall experience could thrive with a creamier or more spritely carbonation texture. 4

(Overall) Another fantastic seasonal by New Belgium. As always, this may not be making a return in the near future, but don't mind the date as those flavors are still vibrant and exciting even when not at their freshest. There's a little of something for everybody in this beer. Even if you don't enjoy Blonde Ales, I'd recommend you give this a shot anyway, as it's one of the most definitive examples of why Blonde ales don't have to be bland and predictable. 4.5

has the same high brownish/dark yellow hue of many IPA's when poured from a 12oz. bottle. Had the same distinctive fruit and hop smells of a classic IPA. Even tasted something like a mild IPA upon first taste. However, finished with the sweet malt notes of a lager. Imagine if Sam Adams Boston Lager had slightly more pronounced hop notes and toned down its big malt finish a bit. Very interesting and VERY good beer. (417 characters)

I guess that summer now starts in May. On-tap at Lazy Dog Cafe and served in a 22 ounce shaker, on to the beer:

A paler orange color with long lasting head and string after string of lacing that sticks. Its aroma is mild, but intriguing. Lawn clipping, melon, canteloupe, a little hint of brewing salt.

My expectations were blown away when I tasted it. Blonde ales are typically light in flavor; I would say put the flavor intensity near the middle of the scale, yet remains very subtle and very easy to drink. Melons, canteloupe, dashes of clean hop pedals. On the lighter side and fairly crisp.

Summer doesn't have to be light. It can have a great taste while retaining its easy drinking qualities. That's what New Belgium has done with Somersault. It was very difficult to put down my glass during lunch. Excellent all around beer. (838 characters)

Pours a clear golden color with a tight, white head that leaves rings of lacing.

Smells of bready pale malts and some floral hops.

Tastes of slightly sweet pale malts layered with some hop notes. Malts lead off and give some slight grainy sweetness and bread notes. Some light fruits come through as well. Hops add floral, grassy, and citrus notes.

Mouthfeel is light with a slight crisp amount of carbonation.

Overall, a very good blonde, and I can easily say it is one of the best for the style. (502 characters)

Mouthfeel is creamy and smooth with mild zesty carbonation that's refreshing and easy to drink with a medium/light body. A summer beer with flavor that goes down easy and was perfect on a hot summer night. Well done, another winner by New Belgium. (735 characters)

Look is clear golden yellow with a sudsy 2 finger head that subsides into a foamy froth. Smell is light pale malts, lemon and flowery hops. Taste is very bright and crisp. Lemon and flowers, coupled with ester-y sweetness not unlike magic hat #9 but much more enjoyable. It finishes sweet, with roasted undertones, and a touch of hop bitter.

Excellent beer, surprised it took me so long to try this one. (426 characters)

This is my first review on BeerAdvocate, so bear with me on my virgin run.

Serving Type: Bottle to New Belgium globe glass.

A: Straw blonde in high light, amber in low light. 1/2" head when poured (maybe I poured too fast?), settling into a 1/8" head that lingers. Nice lacing.

S: Fruity and bright smell; apricot notes.

T: Bright and crisp with a hoppy pinch. A bit of sour. Fruity overtones with a smooth and malty finish.

M: A nice bite at first, with a malty middle and a bit of a watery finish. Little to no aftertaste.

O: Great summertime beer, and that is what it was brewed for. I love New Belgium beers, and this is probably second to Fat Tire. I would recommend this for a hot summer afternoon as it is crip and refreshing and not too heavy. I would also recommend this for someone who regularly drinks commercial beers and wants to explore new territory. (872 characters)

Aroma is grainy, lager yeast, and a little bready. There's a hint of fruit in there, and a little hint of hoppiness. Refreshing.

Taste is smooth and rich, with some hint of spice, hops, and a soft tint of fruit underneath it all. Quite complex, especially for a 5.4% summer ale. Excellent, and a brew I always stock up on in Summer. (414 characters)

Pours a great looking golden beer with hints of amber. There is medium amount of carbonation with a nice thick white head that sits on top of the beer throughout the entire drink.Smell has a great base of wheat beer. On top of that is some very nice citrus hop smells. The citrus is very nice but slightly different than most with a great combination of grapefruit, orange, and something slightly more.Taste is just as good as the smell, even better. The citrus and fruity hop tastes are so strong that they add so much great taste. However, they are the perfect amount on the borderline of being too much, because they are nicely balanced with a base of wheat.Mouthfeel is very nice. Not too thick, not too thin. But a very nice smooth feel.Drinkability is awesome on this beer. A great balance of all things needed. The perfect summer seasonal beer. A beer could not be matched any better to a season. (907 characters)

T - First sip was very refreshing, like a good pilsner or wit might be, but the experience is much more complex. Oaty. No hop bite. Caramel finish, similar to an amber ale.

M - Crisp, smooth.

O - Fantastic ale. Great for if you want substantive flavor without the high ABV of an IPA. Hard to categorize and/or compare head to head with other beers I've tasted, and I like that about it. (489 characters)

Nose is grassy and grainy with a slight mustiness and a gentle fruit presence. A wave of juicy sweet apricot and apple flavors up front, but a touch of tangy lemon keeps the sweetness in check. There’s a light earthy hop presence that lends a nice depth. Very lively feel to this stuff, tingly carbonation with a light toasty malt profile and a very clean, crisp finish. Regardless of style, this is a pretty damned refreshing brew (it was the perfect lawnmower beer on this day). As a blonde ale? Top notch. (652 characters)

This ale has honey golden color with a head that clings for a long time. The smell is bright with a hint of complexity. The flavor has a medium body but a lot of balance between bitter and sweet and maltiness. The flavor stays on the tongue for a long time and continues to get better sip by sip. This is a fantastic session ale. (329 characters)

Really nice lacing over a golden body with the a tiny tiny bit of haze. The look of it is great. Nice lemony grassy taste and smell. This is a very refreshing summer ale. I'm having it in the wet fall right now, and its still almost perfect, but in the hot sun this one would be spot on. (287 characters)